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Factory Farms and Death

Photo by franzl34 of Pixabay

What is the purpose of factory farms? The aim of factory farms is to breed, and raise innocent animals in small, cramped, offensive conditions for profit. Hence, meat, eggs and dairy is harvested in terrible conditions for public consumption. Mostly, factory farmers kill chickens, cows and pigs. Although, there are other less known factory farms with sheep and goats and other voiceless beings.

Furthermore, these farmers don’t care about animal welfare. Here’s a peak inside one of these horrible factory farms. Be warned: this is highly graphic and difficult to view. Undercover at Smithfield Foods. And countless other factory farms, kill and torture animals daily. Indeed, ten million terrified souls, receive this death sentence, annually.

As a result of this, I’m certain you can imagine the mental state of these farm workers. Surely, they can’t possibly sleep peacefully, knowing they bludgeoned innocent beings to death the entire day. Or, pushed the buttons to slam and mutilate them between big steel plates. What horrific ways to die.

All About Big Ag Factory Farms and Greed

Slaughtering sentient beings on a continuous basis, is unconscionable. Besides, living as such, is a very destructive and depressing way of life. Money, power, and greed becomes massive in scale. This is how the vicious circle goes:

And, the rest of us all get sick and go broke trying to mend our health.

The Difference Between Animal and Plant Foods

Photo by Lebensmittelfotos of Pixabay Photo by Stenholtz of Pixabay (Vegan)

You can see for yourself, there’s an alarming amount of fat and grease in the hamburger photo. Grease and cholesterol will, in fact, clog your arteries. And over time, that build up comes with devastating health consequences. A healthier dish like the one on the bottom, is by far the better choice.

How The Future Would Look

Factory farms are detrimental to our earth. Consequently, ridding this world of them, people will live longer. Animals will live freely as they should. You can imagine fields of happy pigs, cows, chickens and other farmed animals. Thus, all living beings will smile and be free from harm. This Mercy for Animals Video is exactly the way the future can be.

Furthermore, there have been remarkable transformations of reversal of diseases eating healthy whole plant foods. You can perhaps discontinue going to doctors and taking pills. Your stamina and vitality will increase ten-fold after a short period of switching.

The benefits of a plant based lifestyle are so much fun! And, accordingly, completely healthy for you! It’s the year 2020 and people are now aware, more than ever, that eating whole food plant based is a great thing! There are now so many wonderful inspirational documentaries available for breakthroughs to great health.

Much more energy!

When you incorporate mostly or solely plants into your body, you begin to feel an entirely different aura within yourself. Your mood elevates, and you start to feel happier about everything. Any negativity decreases, and you don’t feel like sleeping anymore during the day. The days of eating plates full of highly processed foods and taking naps is over. Here you will find a great article regarding energy, by Olivia Petter.

Weight Gain or Loss

Consuming dead animal carcasses and animal by products ravages your health and your mind. I used to scarf down plates loaded with processed and extremely unhealthy foods.

And also…..

On top of that, I regularly consumed junk food packaged neatly in pretty wrappings loaded with harmful chemicals. Ingredient lists were so long, many of the items were unrecognizable. The best foods are the foods that don’t have an ingredient list! One of the most informative documentaries I’ve seen is entitled, “Foods That Cure Disease” (2018) featuring Craig McMahon and major authorities regarding plant based foods. You can rent it on Amazon Prime Videos for 99 cents, or it’ll hopefully be on Netflix soon.

Original photo by skeeze of Pixabay

As a result of watching this film, my partner Wayne and I made the plant based lasagna created by Craig McMahon just last night. Unbelievably, it was by far, the best tasting lasagna we ever enjoyed. A photo of this wonderful dish is below.

So, after years of ongoing research into plant based foods, and incorporating them into my diet, I lost almost 100 pounds. Furthermore, if you need to gain weight, the following documentary is an excellent example of vegan athletes that have prospered. It’s called the “Game Changers” and you can view it on Netflix.

Now, I no longer feel guilty about consuming a plate full of dead grey tortured animals. Feeling joy with every single bite, is phenomenal for the mind.

Better Complexion

Indulging in plants practically eliminates inflammation in your body. Consequently, this reduces infection and allows rashes and sores to dissipate. Unfortunately, I personally don’t have any photos of myself to prove it to you, but my skin cleared up dramatically becoming vegan. Inserted below, you can catch a glimpse of revamp of Ryan Adams.

Gas, bloating, stomach issues subside

After being on a natural whole food regimen for a short time (let’s say about one month) terrible painful gas and stomach issues subside. I can attest to this and you can view this wonderful video by Body Hub here. He explains this exact topic. You can also read the great comments underneath the video as people substantiate the benefits of veganism.

You Can Eat As Much As You Want!

There is a endless array of whole plant based foods with which you can partake. These foods are colorful, energizing and tasty. You can find an excellent video of testimonials here on the benefits. The video is called “What I Eat In A Day.” You may also view an amazing extensive list of vegan friendly groceries, written by Anisha Jhaveri.

Photo by stokpic of Pixabay

Finally, it’s awesome to know you are able to eat limitless amounts of WPBF (whole plant based foods) and you won’t gain an ounce. Or, if you need to gain weight, these foods will build your muscles to become stronger than you’ve ever been.

Congrats to you if you are reading this article, considering a plant based system to develop for yourself.

Midwest Farmers and New Decade 2020

As a reader of my blog you know that I grew up on a farm in the Midwest, and was a very heavy meat eater. We consumed milk from dairy cattle, and of course we ate eggs with almost every breakfast. Being extremely unhealthy, I weighed 100 pounds more than my body structure. I was obese, couldn’t breath normally, and was very sick.

All that started changing in 2012. Living alone in an apartment, I had just made a large dinner of two pork chops, mashed potatoes, gravy and peas. Then I sat down to flip through the tv channels.

I accidentally stumbled across a channel showing pigs being tortured and killed, heinously. They were crushed between big industrial-sized metal pieces. These living, feeling beings screamed in agony and pain. And a person doesn’t forget that horrible sound. After I had already eaten a couple bites of the pork chops, I began to cry. Completely devastated, I threw out the entire plate of dead pig’s meat. Consequently, I vowed to start living a much more healthy and compassionate lifestyle. You can read my previous article about this here

It is now almost 8 years later, and I’m still 99.99 percent plant based, however, still eat salmon once in a while. I’m a million times healthier and happier.

Hope for Midwest Farmers

I was inspired to write this article after I recently read an article about the decline of the farms in the Midwest. It’s about John and Mary Reickmann of WI, and other farmers who are experiencing major problems. Most of these issues are because of the lack of people who are no longer eating meat or drinking cow’s milk or eggs. You can read this article here.

But, there’s hope……great hope for future plant based farmers. So, I’m not an expert, by any means, but there’s a growing list of former beef/dairy farmers that are taking the plunge and moving to growing fruits, vegetables, nut trees. Hence, it’s a great response to the growing needs of the world waking up and becoming healthier.

Some of the many plants that can be grown in the Midwest include the following.

Cabbage

Potatoes

Cauliflower

Garlic

Onions

Tomatoes

Blueberries

Strawberries

Gooseberries

Asparagus

Cucumbers

Onions

Cold Hardy Bamboo

Cold Hardy Lilacs

Apples

Pears

Plums

Apricots

Cherries

Another list of plants include nut trees. These include:

Hazelnuts

Chestnuts

Black Walnuts

Cold Hardy Almonds

Great news for plant based milk drinkers

Nut based milks are gaining amazing popularity. Many people I know, have switched to nut based milks for their health alone. And these people are reaping their benefits. Personally, I haven’t ingested cow’s milk for almost eight years now. Because the benefits are so great, I consume almond milk, hazelnut milk, and other nut based products, like ice cream.

One particular brand that stands out are in many stores available to the public. So Delicious Brand is an amazing company and you can see their products here.

So, after discovering this YouTube Video it’s possible to prosper by growing plants. Yes, it may take some time, but the world is forever leaning towards plants, not animals or their byproducts.

Then there’s the idea of leaving all sentient beings to live a happy life. The following is an excellent article. It proves former beef/dairy farmers who, incredibly, transformed their lives. Read it here.

Accordingly, you can go to my resources page and find an extensive list of documentaries and videos. As a result of watching them, they just might transform your life for the best outcome. They certainly changed my life for the better.

Furthermore, when eating mostly plants, rather than flesh, makes a world of difference in your health. Besides, I have first hand knowledge. You slim down, feel lighter mentally, emotionally, and physically. Thus, that is great news for all the Midwest farmers out there. It’s not only possible to transition to plant based farms, but it’s likely you will succeed and thrive in this new plant based world.

Finally, I would like to leave you with a video that arrived this New Year’s Day, and put a smile on my face. Sanctuary Video

It is the year 2019………

Photo by Pixabay

Is there such a thing as compassion anymore?

Yes….it’s the year 2019 and we are still eating our furry and feathered friends. Why? Think about it. We have been conditioned and programmed our entire lives to eat LIVING, EMOTIONAL BEINGS. These innocent animals are forced to live in disgusting unnatural conditions from the moment they are born. Then, after living (if that’s what you call it) they are brought to torturous and terrifying deaths. We, I suppose, don’t see their soulful eyes on our plates as we eat their dead carcasses.

Photo by Atahualpa Caceres Primera of Unsplash

Here is the sole reason: money

It’s all a vicious horrific cycle, that continues and beyond. And the people in power KNOW they are not doing the right thing. The following is the list of the cycle.

Innocent animals are bred and raised.

Healthy and sick defenseless animals are tortured and killed.

Dead, decapitated, dissected bodies are packaged pretty and neatly in the grocery stores and labelled nicely with things like “pork chops,” “ham,” “bacon,” “summer sausages,” and so forth. Do you think we’d buy packages of meat labelled “This was an innocent living animal with eyes, but we chose to kill and mutilate it, so you can eat it, and we can make a ton of money off of you?” I doubt it.

Uninformed and programmed (I am guilty of being one of these consumers for much of my life) people purchase these dead animals for consumption.

These people get sick and die prematurely. They get hosts of unimaginable auto-immune diseases and other illnesses. To name a few would be cancer, diabetes type 1 and 2, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus, IBD (inflammatory bowel disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, psoriasis, and the list goes on and on.

Then, people face no other choice, but to go to the doctors and hospitals to get help.

The doctors continue to load us up with highly expensive procedures and medications. So now, we have bought the dead animals to get sick, and continue to spend all our money on medications and treatments, instead of preventing it all in the first place.

In conclusion…………

I grew up on a farm, and I know just how difficult it is to make a change in your lifestyle and emotional health, just by eating what is healthy for you. It’s taken me almost 7 years to transition into a 99.9 percent plant-based regimen. Just try one step at a time. Instead of making chili with ground beef, try substituting the meat with Beyond meat beefless crumbles. Drink a delicious chocolate smoothie with a plant-based milk for breakfast, rather than what I call a cholesterol-filled death breakfast with bacon and eggs. It’s hard but very doable for the health of your own body and for the compassion for this world’s innocent, beautiful animals.

Living your best Authentic Health Life

First I’d like to say, I realize this website is supposed to mainly be about artwork. However, I think it’s important to write things about life in general. And I think great health is paramount to be able to do the things you love most in life.

Lately, I’ve been struggling with some health issues. Namely, proctitis/inflamed hemorrhoids, and for the past 20 years, have dealt with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. It is an autoimmune disease which affects thousands of people annually. People have continually acquired countless illnesses, daily. It’s no wonder pharmaceutical companies are laughing, huge checks in hand, all the way home. They take millions of dollars from ordinary, uninformed people every year. They live to hope you get ill, so they can sell you tons of super expensive meds at a continuous rate.

Photo by Steve Halama of Unsplash

Everyone is different

As a reader of this site, you know I used to be a very heavy meat, dairy and egg eater. I had endless health issues. To name just a few: hypothyroidism, hashimoto’s thyroiditis, sciatic nerve in legs, cramps, anal fissures, proctitis, constipation, undying fatigue, etc. So, I’ve been on meds for high blood pressure and thyroid issues for a very long time.

So, I’m here to say, I’ve experienced so many of the same illnesses that millions of people currently have. But, everyone is different, and should be eating what is best for YOUR body’s needs. It is my desire to help those suffering, by eating the correct medicine to restore your health. And ultimately, thrive. Not just survive with a general feeling of “un-wellness” your whole life, like me.

Photo by Rakicevic Nenad of Unsplash

Researching, testing, re-testing

As you know, I went full-fledged vegan in August of 2017, after struggling for so many years. I’ve been saying “plant-based” ways of eating are highly recommended. And I still believe this is true, for the most part. However, after recently being diagnosed with proctitis, I began reviewing my food choices once again.

I understand now, different people need to eat different food medicines for their unique issues. Via my research, I ran across a wonderful website by Amie Valone, called The Healthy Apple. I relate to her, as she, just as I, have been through a multitude of the same exact health issues.

I also relate to Amie, as after 10 long years of debilitating sicknesses, she finally realized she would need to be her own advocate. The only thing doctors were doing, was tons of invasive procedures, diagnosing diseases, and prescribing expensive drugs. And, nothing she did, helped. Until she started eating the right foods for her.

I’m with her. So…..back to the proctitis. The doctors and GI people said I needed yet another colonoscopy and endoscopy, immediately. They prescribed suppositories at the ungodly rate of $8.50 per each one. I decided right then, I was defeated and exhausted of the constant go to “yet another doctor” and get more drugs. And, so, I began looking very very strongly at food as medicine for my specific bodily needs.

Photo by Monika Grabkowska of Unsplash

I immediately opted OUT of the procedures, and didn’t get the meds. Instead, I started researching anti inflammatory foods. It startled me, that almost all autoimmune diseases prosper from foods that inflame. The first week, I put tumeric and ginger spice in my green tea. For lunch, I would drink a blueberry, flaxseed, almond butter smoothie. God, forgive me……..I also began incorporating salmon back into diet, because of it’s super anti-inflammatory benefits. All soy and gluten products were completely out of the picture. Just a no no, for GI problems, and Hashimoto’s. I do NOT eat any processed foods that are loaded with artificial chemicals horrible for anyone’s body. I try to eat as though there aren’t any grocery stores. So, eating “earth” and “nature’s” foods are the best.

Photo by Jared Rice of Unsplash

Within two weeks of eating almost all anti-inflammatory foods, my body was literally back to normal. I couldn’t agree more with Amie of The Healthy Apple. I still believe eating almost all plant-based is the way to go. She said she eats 99.99 percent plant-based, and I think that’s where I am right now, as well. You need to discover what exactly the foods you need for your body to be at it’s best. Just research, research, and you will eventually land on your best health of your life. And it doesn’t matter your age. Eat what’s right for your ultimate health.

Hope this article was helpful to you, and until next time, have a great day!!!

You are what you eat

You’ve heard it a million times. You are what you eat. I am now in my fifties, and am now highly convinced this sentence is very true. I don’t have any professional medical training at all. Everything in this article, is based solely on personal experience.

Various Foods effect people differently

Although various foods effect people differently, but for almost all of us, consumption of certain things effects us the same. And it saddens me that most of our lives, we’ve been programmed to eat terrible, very unhealthy foods.

This is how the circle works

The money-hungry sharks in the cruel meat and dairy industries have regulated our eating habits since childhood. This is what we’ve been taught, and learned to follow them blindly. Every other commercial you see, is selling meat, dairy and sugar-loaded, addictive candies.

Then, after we indulge in eating dead carcasses, milk meant for babies of cows, and over-loading on desserts/candy, we become ill. There are tons and tons of preservatives, cancer-causing additives, fillers, GMOs, cholesterol, dyes, etc. The list never ends. I will use hot dogs as an example. Millions and millions of hot dogs are consumed annually. Not naming any brands here, but the labels are pretty much identical in nature. There are no less than 14 ingredients in one dog, and only about 2 of those are actually good for you.

This is the ingredient list:

Just think about it. How many hot dogs have you eaten over your lifetime? How many thousands of hot dog commercials have you seen? I never ever used to read labels, but now I do on a consistent basis. In my estimation, approximately 90% of processed, packaged foods, are literally killing us. If you read labels, all these unhealthy foods have extensive, harmful ingredients in them.

So, the circle continues

It’s not your fault. We’ve been programmed on a daily basis for years to eat unhealthy, violating crap into our systems. All through rich, marketing companies that know how to lie to us, and get us to buy their dangerous, noxious products.

As, I mentioned before, then we get sick. We get cancer, or an auto-immune disease, or a host of other illnesses. Then it’s time to spend an exorbitant amount of money going to see different doctors. Often times, even doctors are unaware because they were taught by the unknowingly uninformed. They are only there to diagnose your current issue, and prescribe medications. Many times, these scripts are so expensive, the regular citizen can’t afford them.

An Example:

Until 5 years ago, I was told to eat “everything brown.” Only brown rice, only brown pasta, only brown breads.” And only eat lean cuts of meat. This was supposed to be a universal fix for everyone. As healthy as I wanted to be, I was actually doing the exact opposite. My body was being ravaged alive. Along with getting Hashimoto’s Thyroitis, and a list of other terrible ailments, I also was diagnosed with proctitis.

The specialist said I had gluten-intolerance, and should stay away from ANY gluten-containing products on the market. She said “I needed to have a colonoscopy AND endoscopy, immediately. Suppositories were prescribed at a whopping $255.00, which I could not afford. After many years, I know now, you need to be your own advocate. Deterring the outpatient procedures, and expenses, I just started eating differently.

Immediately, I stopped consuming processed sugars, whole grains, and nuts. I began to research anti-inflammatory foods to eat. These are the foods I discovered were highly anti-inflammatory.

1. Tumeric

2. Ginger

3. Pineapple

4. Omega 3 fatty acids (chia seeds, flaxseeds)

5. Blueberries/Berries

6. Apples

7. Green tea

8. Garlic/onions

9. Avocados

10. Coconut/Olive Oils

The list goes on

The list of anti-inflammatory foods to eat goes on and on, and I was never aware of it. I began eating these foods on a consistent and regular basis, and guess what? Within one week after I started eating these foods, my horrible pain and symptoms of proctitis began to disappear. Two weeks of eating these foods, and any discomfort I had for almost three months straight was virtually nil. I know I linked this video before to watch, but it’s so profound, I’d like to link it again. It’s by Dr. Terry Wahls, and you can view it here.

The vicious circle

So, the saga continues for most of us. The meat, dairy, and sugar industries program us to buy and eat their junk. Then we get sick. We are prescribed mega-costly and sometimes unavailable prescriptions. We are constantly in and out of the emergency rooms, and hospitals. It all became simple to me. Eat highly nutritious whole foods regularly, and watch your body and mind transform. Or, the nightmare cycle will continue on and on and on.

In Conclusion

What you eat, is what you are, and how you feel. Take some time to explore what foods are right to eat for your body to feel healthy. It took me forever to figure it out, and it’s an ongoing process. But, as it turns out, foods with 3 ingredients or less on the label, or plain fruits and vegetables is your best bet. I avoided the costs, and somewhat invasive procedures, just by eating the right foods.

Therefore, eat what’s good for your bod, and have a great life! See you at my next post. Enjoy!